Codes Used during this trip report EWR-Newark Liberty Intl Airport DTW-Detroit Metro Airport SFO-San Fransisco Intl Airport NRT-New Tokyo Intl Airport MNL-Ninoy Aquino Intl Airport NW-Northwest Airlines TSA-Transportation Security Administration Wednesday,May 28 2003 EWR-DTW Flight NW653 Aircraft DC9-30 N seats 14E/F Left our home in Delaware on Tuesday and spent the night at my fathers house left there around 3:30 am arrived at 4:00am at EWR Terminal B due to ongoing night road work the departures roadway ws closed and we were droped off at the NW baggage claim there was a PA airport red coat on duty who was able to get a sky cap who assited us up to the NW ticket counter which was closed. Other than the addition of the baggaged x-ray/bomb detection equipment and the new shops/restaurants the terminal had not changed that much since I worked as a agent for Worldwide Flight Services/AirTran in 1999-2000. Was joined by other travelers and the ticket counter opened at 4:30 am due to the fact that we were traveling internationaly and on 4 seperate flight segments the check in took a little longer than normal. After completing check in we dropped and informing the TSA agent that we uesd wire ties to lock our checked baggage at the machine to be x-rayed and sent down to the NW bag room for loading. We then proceeded to the security checkpoint. At the security check point our pasports and tickets were checked and we were directed to the one of the three lines for the security check. When this checkpoint was operated by ITS under contract from Delta there were only 2 lines. Empted pockets,removed shoed took lap top out of bag for inspection. Arived at Gate 41B at 500am. Notable a/c at EWR were Skways/Midwest Dornier 328 Jet(Midwest is now handeled at NW Gate 40 pervously they were handeled by DL),NW A320 in new colors and 727-200 which was at EWR due to Anaheim being in town for the Stanly Cup. Boarding began at 5:40am load on the a/c was very light in coach but 1st class was full. (could have been due to the early departure or was Wednesday after a Monday holiday. Push back was delayed appoximently 10 minnutes as the flight crew was checking about a ground stop for DTW but there was none and we had to wait for two other flights to be pushed before ours were wait for take off from 4-22L was very short and we were off and up into and above the clouds. was able to have coffee and granla bar for service. I forgot how much noiserer the DC-9-30 is than the newer a/c in service. I also woner how much longer NW will be keeping the DC-9- in service. Arrived at DTW only a few minnutes late and after a lenghty taxie arrived at gate 29 at the new NW terminal and after checking the gate assignment with the NW agent it was off to our next flight. DTW-SFO NW flight 343 Aircraft 757-251 N546US seat 38EF Did not have to use the people mover as gate 18 was only a short 2 moviingsidewalks from from the gate we arrived at. Had just enough time to use the restroom before boading began at 8:40 for the 9:01 departure and since were were only 4 rows form the back of the a/c were amoung the first to board. Flight was 90% fully our row was one of the few where all seats were not full. Meal service was a full breakfast. Spoted a UA 737 still in Shuttle by UA colors after a short taxie we took off and saw the oldNw termail which currently has had all of the jetways remved for I guess evetuall demolition. NW 757's are equiped with an inflight entertaiment system but it was not being used at all. Approach to SFO was made from the south over the east bay. Upon landing spoted the UAL MOC where there were a large number of 747-400's on the ramp hopefully they were not being prepared for the short trip to the desert for storage. Taxed past the old International terminal which also now has no jet ways and I also woluld asume could be demoshed. Arrived about 20 minnutes early and checked with the NW agent for directions to the International terminal and our next flight. SFO-NRT NW flight NW 27 aircraft 747-251B N631US seat 40ab We had a nice 2 hour layover at SFO but had to change terminals which also ment going through security again as well. Made the long walke to SFO wnet past the exhbit on the history of SFO but didn't stop as there was a line for security this time my belt set off the machine and I was pulled ased after gathing my beliongs for wanding. All in all the TSA scaners I encounter were very courtious. The international terminal was quit as the NW 747-251b was one of the few ac at the terminal. Boarding began at 12:45pm and since the boarding annoucements could not heard in the wating area everyone stood in front of Gate 11 after a check of our passport we wnt down to the flight. Dual jetways were used and there were customers officers doing random spot checks since we were in coach we went down the 2nd jetway. This was my first trip on the 747 and I found the plane well to be massive. After waiting for what seemed like forever for the full flight to be boarded I wonder how far in advance of departure will pax on the A380 have to board. Flight was full. A Korea Air 777 arrived while we waited for pushback clearence. But eventually the flight was pushed back. It always amazed me that this huge a/c was able to take to the skies but after our loing take off roll the a/c was airborne and up and out over the Pacific to NRT via the great circle route. In between the movies shown the crew on the flight deck would put up a map with information about our loaction after the moviere were over the information was kept up all the way to landing at NRT. The inflight servce was good. The classic 747 were were on was built in 1984 and when the DC-10-30's leave the fleet later this year will be the last aircraft in the NW fleet with flight enginers. Arrived at NRT a good hour in advanced of arrival due to favarable winds. Saw a nuber of UA 747 and 777 on the ramp. As we pulled into our gate saw an NW A320 which is used for trips to smaller Asiann destinations although we were on a through flight it was also a change of plane flight so we got off and followed the signs for transit or connecting passengers and also had to go through a secuity check and it was off to the gate for our final flight of the trip. Thursday May 29th NRT-MNL NW27 747-451 N US seats 11jk Originall were were to be in center seats 61de I asked at the gate if any window and cernter seats were avalaib le was informed by the agent flight was full. Boarding began at 6:15 for the 7:10pm departure. Boading was chatic as everyone tried to apporach the gate eventhough only rows 60 and higher were called. When they pulled our boarding passes we were assigned new seates in the Busuiness Class which was great since there was plenty of leg room. We boarded through the first class jetway. Plane pused on time NRT was busy with a large number of ac parkede at remote stands. Took off and were airbour to MNL took advantge of the sleeper seat after dinner to lay back and get some sleep. Fl,ight was very bumpy and fasen seat belt sign was on for the full flight occasional lighting flashes clould bee seen. Occasionaly would check personal vidio system for a postion check while my wife did the paper work for our arrival in the Phillippines. Arrved on time at the gate not much to see except for a few PAL ac at the Lufthanza operated maitence hanger. Spoted an Continental/Air Mirconesia 737 and a Kuwit Airways A340. There was one other NW 747 on the ground and we pulled up at an ajoining gate. Our names were on a list of people with who had to speak with a NW agent apprently they wnted to know what had happened to our ticket coupor for NRT-MNL expland tht is was a through ticket which was pulled at SFO and we were on our way. After the maditory check for teparature due to SARS and immagation. It was to the baggage claim where we collected our bags went through customs. and left the termanal which was the old one and had no ac to meet my brothes in law for our trip to meet the rest of the in-laws all in all were procesed through Customs and immigration in an hour. Comming soon part 2 the trip home.